Development and enhancement of graduate nurse programs in mental health : a statewide evaluation

The Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice (CPNRP) has prepared this report for the Department of Human Services, Mental Health Branch, in Victoria. The primary purpose of this project was to conduct an extensive review of the current and proposed Graduate Nurse Programs developed and implemented by Area Mental Health Services throughout Victoria.In August 2000, Department of Human Services, Mental Health Branch, agreed to provide funding to support the introduction of a Specialist Graduate Year Mental Health Nurse Program, as part of the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. This initiative was to be further supported through the introduction of 21 clinical nurse educators. The primary purpose of the funding was to enable the development of a Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Program and to increase the intake with adult mental health, acute inpatient and aged mental health being identified as high areas of need.The six specific aims of this project review included the following:1.Conduct an extensive review of national and international literature and other documentation in order to identify any best practice models and examine trends in the development and implementation of graduate nurse programs in the mental health area.2.Explore and evaluate the current Graduate Nurse Programs operating in Victoria, including recent developments and proposed changes for 2003.3.Identify a model of best practice for Graduate Nurse Programs in mental health nursing in light of the information sourced through the literature review.4.Enable services to identify the structures and processes to be adopted to enhance best practice and/or to demonstrate their compliance with these requirements.5.Promote the ongoing development and monitoring of Graduate Nurse Programs in mental health nursing.6.Establish strategies to support services in providing a high quality Graduate Nurse Program in mental health nursing, including identifying the needs of each AMHS and recommending and/or developing appropriate strategies.The structure of this report details the process of data collection, analysis, and results of a comprehensive review undertaken by the CPNRP throughout 2003. In particular, this report focuses on:•A review of the literature;•Data instrument development and implementation in relation to the stated core criteria as identified by the DHS;•Process of data collection;•Individual Area Mental Health Service reports;•Discussion (includes Monitoring Tool, identified strengths and limitations of specialist graduate nurse programs, comparison of Department of Human Services core criteria between Area Mental Health Services, and strategies for future specialist graduate nurse program development); and•Recommendations.The Project Team consisted of:•Dr Brenda Happell (Project Consultant);•Ms Rosemary Charleston (Project Manager);•Mr Rob Ryan (Project Officer); and•Ms Karla Hayman-White (Research Officer).The Development and Enhancement of Specialist Psychiatric/Mental Health Graduate Nurse Programs was further supported by a Consultative Liaison Committee.In the course of this project, a substantial amount of data was collected from key stakeholders and synthesised to establish an understanding of current practice in Victorian Graduate Nurse Programs in mental health nursing. Based on the project findings a number of recommendations have been developed to assist in future program development.RecommendationsThe recommendations target service improvement for Specialist Psychiatric/Mental Health Graduate Nurse Programs in Victoria and are directly aligned with the core criteria as stated by the Department of Human Services, Mental Health Branch. Ten core criteria are addressed in the recommendations, as well as a number of general issues that were raised during this project. In total there are fifty seven recommendations with the following areas identified as priorities; Consumer Participation, Preceptorship, Clinical Supervision, Aggression Management Training and Program Evaluation.Following is a synopsis of the core criteria and resulting recommendations:•Consumer Participation (recommendations 1.1 – 1.6)The principles supporting these recommendations include the promotion of greater consumer participation in the development, delivery, and evaluation of Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Specialist GNP Coordinator (recommendations 2.1 – 2.4)The principles supporting these recommendations include promoting collaboration and effective communication between key stakeholders.•Theoretical Component (recommendations 3.1 – 3.4)The principles supporting these recommendations include equity, consistency, and quality in theoretical components in Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Clinical Experience (recommendations 4.1 – 4.6)The principles supporting these recommendations include equity, consistency, and quality in clinical rotation, and supernumerary opportunities for graduates in Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Preceptorship (recommendations 5.1 – 5.11)The principles supporting these recommendations include effective, timely, planned, and monitored support for graduates in Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Clinical Supervision (recommendations 6.1 – 6.5)The principles supporting these recommendations include effective, timely and planned and monitored support for graduates in Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Integration (recommendations 7.1 – 7.4)The principles supporting these recommendations include promoting collaboration and resource sharing with coexisting graduate nurse programs.•Aggression Management Training (recommendations 8.1 – 8.2)The principles supporting these recommendations include timely delivery of appropriate training in this area to ensure safe practice.•Clinical Assessment and Performance Review (recommendations 9.1 – 9.5)The principles supporting these recommendations include ensuring competencies and standards are applied to graduate learning, and that feedback is delivered in a constructive and timely manner during Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Program Evaluation (recommendations 10.1 – 10.4)The principles supporting these recommendations include consistency, transparency, and collaboration in the evaluation of Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.•Additional Issues (recommendations 11.1 – 11.6)The principles supporting these recommendations include adequate resourcing of Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs, effective promotion strategies, particularly aged persons mental health, networking and timely and consistent state-wide auditing of Specialist Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs.